Cherryland Electric Cooperative - Michigan Country Lines Magazine

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eaders’ pages & LETTERS In-home Devices Show Electric Use, Help Save Money To help raise awareness of energy use, increasing numbers of consumers are considering installing inhome display devices that show how much energy a home uses at any given time. Most in-home displays connect to a co-op’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system to provide real-time pricing. When the price of generating electricity rises, the unit sends a signal for you to begin conserving energy. Some models even allow you to set an energy-savings goal and track your progress online through a free energy use web portal like Google PowerMeter or Microsoft Hohm. But no matter the features, folks who use in-home displays are likely to save 6 to 10 percent annually on their electric bills, according to studies by the Cooperative Research Network (CRN), an arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Even In-home displays like the PowerCost Monitor are being developed to provide a variety of information related to energy use, including how many kilowatt hours you have consumed and how much money you are currently spending on electricity. after people stop actively paying attention to the displays, electric use behavior often changes permanently. On average, homeowners who “forget” about the displays may consume 1 to 3 percent less energy than before they had one. By using less electricity, consumers help shave their electric co-op’s service load. This saves everyone money in the long run by delaying the need to build power plants or purchase additional wholesale power in a competitive market. The most effective displays are easy to understand, interactive, and show electric use of individual appliances, says Brian Sloboda, CRN senior program manager. “These devices are best for those who are comfortable with gadgets, and possibly those with higher home energy use. “People considering in-home displays should have a desire to reduce or at least understand their energy use,” Sloboda adds. “The displays, for example, will show how much electricity is needed when lights are left on in an empty room, and how much it takes to operate a really big LCD TV.” In-home displays typically cost between $100-$200, depending on their features. – Magen Howard Sources: Cooperative Research Network, NRECA Market Research Services mystery photo Every co-op member who identifies the correct location of the photo below by Oct. 10 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 credit for electricity from your electric cooperative. Please note that we do not accept Mystery Photo guesses by phone! Email mysteryphoto@countrylines.com, or send by mail to Country Lines, 2859 W. Jolly Road, Okemos, 48864. Include your name, address, phone number and co-op. The winner will be announced in the November/December 2011 issue. The July/August contest winner is Elizabeth Wilson of Dowagiac, who correctly identified the “Cheetahs On The Run” sculpture on Depot Drive in Dowagiac. Jul/Aug photo Do you know where this is? u Tell us about your favorite Michigan-made products! Share a few paragraphs with us about your favorite Michiganmade product and we may write about it. Be sure to share why you like it and if you have a unique story to go with it, please send that, too. Email to czuker@countrylines.com or send to: Country Lines, 2859 W. Jolly Road, Okemos, MI 48864. Info on Tattler Canning Lids/ Michigan-Made Product If you are still intrigued about our July-August feature on the Tattler Reusable Canning Lids, here’s the missing contact information: website: reusablecanninglids.com phone: 877-747-2793 6 |
More About Vernors I called the Snapple Co. again,and they said, “Yes, it is aged for three years in barrels” (there is a telephone number on the bottle). Also, they haven’t changed the recipe in over 40 years. The above is in answer to the letter in the last Country Lines (July-August). I have had a lot of good comments about the article (June Michigan-made product, “Memories and History of Vernors Ginger Ale”). – Marjory Priest Kayaks To your article in Country Lines (July-August 2011) on kayaks, the picture is staged—you do not see water movement and the paddles are in the wrong position—the one out of the water has to be at 90 degrees to the one in the water to reduce air flow. And, I have not seen any kayak on display or in the water that would be long enough, so it would not waddle like a duck unless it is an original “Eskimo” or a “Klepper.” I was about 5-years-old when I first sat in a kayak—this is a little more than 80 years ago. We did not have any canoes, just kayaks going down the Mosel and Rhein rivers. Those kayaks were not plastic-they had a wooden frame and a canvas skin. Since 1963, I’ve owned a 17-foot (not seaworthy any more) folding kayak with a rudder sideboard and sail. Sometimes I think to take it out again, fix it, and play with it again. – Hans Mueller, LeRoy Editor’s Note: It’s great that you have a long history with this wonderful sport and we hope you get to use your kayak again. As to the photo, we sometimes use “stock” photos and do not claim these are professional kayakers, but the photo gives readers an idea of what kayaks look like and the fun that can be had with them, which is our main intent for this story. Thanks. More About Eagles Regarding Don Ingle’s article, (May, “High-Flying Eagles”) how many bald eagles are currently nesting in Michigan? What county has the most? Least? How many counties are they nesting in? – William Robson, Whitmore Lake Don Ingle replies: “According to Mathew Stuber of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan’s population of American bald eagles is about 700 pairs, and they are now widespread in Michigan. Their favorite nesting sites are near large bodies of water, like rivers and lakes, as they are primarily fish eaters, although they will eat carrion. After nearly becoming extirpated from Michigan, their population rebound is one of conservation’s best success stories. Many consider passage of the Clean Waters Act in the 1970s to be the major reason for the recovery, since eagles eat fish and if fish were from contaminated waters it led to hatching failures. The highest number of eagles are found in the U.P. and northern half of lower Michigan, but they are now being seen in a majority of Michigan’s counties. To Send Us a Letter: We enjoy hearing from our readers, so if you wish to comment, email your letter to editor@countrylines.com or send to: Country Lines Letters, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Letters are printed on a space-available/content basis, and we reserve the right to edit slightly for space reasons. Since there isn’t room to print every letter, please keep the size to no more than 350 words so we can include as many as possible. Thanks for reading with us! College Fire Safety While college provides new and exciting opportunities, it also introduces safety hazards, especially to students living in dormitories, apartments and other community locations. An impeccable personal safety record doesn’t safeguard someone against the actions of other residents in shared college housing facilities. Therefore, it is extremely important to develop and practice an escape route should there be a fire. Fire Safety Fire is the third leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States. A residential fire occurs every 82 seconds in this country, and, once burning, the size of a fire doubles every 30 seconds. If a fire occurs in your building, evacuate as soon as possible. Do not try to act bravely or put the fire out. That is a fight too easily lost and is just not worth it. If you have an escape plan, follow it at the first sign or smell of a fire. Never exit a door if it feels hot to the touch, as flames are likely on the other side. It is also a good idea to know where all the fire extinguishers are located in the building. Fire Prevention In community living facilities, everyone must do their part to make their dwelling a safer place. Here are a few easy steps you can take to help prevent fire through electrical hazards: u Look for the Underwriters Stay safe—don’t overload power strips! Laboratories (UL) mark on all products. It means they have been tested for safety. u Make sure outlets are not overloaded. u Check electrical wires and cords on appliances, tools, lamps, etc., to make sure they are not worn or frayed. u Never run electrical wires or extension cords under carpets or heavy items, and never bunch them up behind a hot appliance. u Unplug appliances when not in use. u Make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on each level, and make sure they are maintained and tested regularly. Fire facts Fire is a chemical reaction involving fuel, oxygen and heat. Take away any of these elements and a fire cannot last. There are four classifications of fires, depending on their fuels: Class A – Ordinary materials like wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and plastics. Most home fires fall into this category. Class B – Combustible liquids—gasoline, kerosene, alcohol, paint, and propane—tend to be more severe and dangerous than Class A fires because the fuel is highly flammable. Class C – Electrical equipment like appliances, switches, and power tools. These fires are extremely dangerous due to added shock hazards and because the source is energized. An energized fire source supplies a steady and constant ignition condition. Class D – Combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, potassium, and sodium. These fires burn at a very high temperature and can react violently with water or other chemicals. – Source: Underwriters Laboratories September 2011 | 7
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative - Michigan Country Lines Magazine

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